Aug. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Bunge Ltd., Argentina’s second-biggest corn exporter, owes about $100 million in taxes for
fiscal 2006 and 2007, according to a claim by the country’s tax
agency, the company said.

Last month, Bunge received a preliminary income tax audit
report and claim from Argentina’s tax authorities for fiscal
years 2006 and 2007, the White Plains, New York-based grain
trader said in a securities filing Aug. 9.

Argentine tax authorities have inspected several Bunge
locations in the country over the last year related to
allegations and an investigation of tax evasion.

“While we believe that the allegations and claims against
us are without merit, these matters are at a preliminary stage
and therefore, we are, at this time, unable to predict their
outcome,” the company said in the filing. Susan Burns, a Bunge
spokeswoman, declined to provide further comment today.

The agency claims that Bunge owes “a bit less than $200
million” for 2008 and 2009, which was not included in the audit,
according to a tax agency official who cannot be named under
government policy.

The government previously claimed Bunge owed $250 million
for 2007 through 2009.